Alex Zachman
NC State won their annual Heritage Game at Reynolds Coliseum against the UMKC Kangaroos 88-69 on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 to a sold out crowd. Dec. 9 marked the 17th game back at Reynolds Coliseum and saw the Wolfpack improve to 16-1 for games played at Reynolds Coliseum since the move to PNC Arena in 2000.
Legendary NC State men’s basketball coach Jim Valvano’s name will be honored in the place where he coached for 10 years, as the arena of Reynolds Coliseum on campus will officially become James T. Valvano Arena at William Neal Reynolds Coliseum, NC State Athletics announced Wednesday.
The arena will be formally dedicated to Valvano on Dec. 5 in a ceremony before NC State’s annual Heritage Game against Western Carolina. Valvano led the Wolfpack to a national championship in 1983, and during his tenure went 121-37 inside of Reynolds Coliseum.
“Coach Valvano captured the hearts of Wolfpack fans with his coaching success and dynamic personality,” Director of Athletics Debbie Yow told NC State Athletics. “Thanks to a small group of NC State alums, we can further memorialize his contributions through this naming opportunity in his beloved Reynolds Coliseum.”
A group of NC State donors pledged $5 million to name the arena. Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993, will now have his name honored in Reynolds Coliseum along another Wolfpack great. The court of Reynolds Coliseum has been named Kay Yow Court since 2007, after the legendary Pack women’s basketball coach who also died of cancer, in 2009.